To review the ground-level preparedness for the forthcoming Assembly elections, Deputy Commissioner M. Lokesh on Wednesday paid a surprise visit to the government buildings in Shivamogga and Tirthahalli taluks that will be used as polling stations.
In Gajanur village, he visited the polling station at the building of the Department of Adult Education. As the building had become dilapidated, he directed officials to shift the polling station to another government building nearby. He asked officials to upgrade the amenities for voters at the polling stations in Kudugalumane and Mattur villages. Mr. Lokesh also reviewed the progress of the revision of electoral rolls in Hosahalli, Thimmapura and Sakrebail villages.
Addressing a meeting at his office in the city later, he directed officials of the Department of Collegiate Education to establish voter awareness committees in every college to spread awareness among youngsters on the importance of voting. He said jathas should be taken out in the jurisdiction of every polling booth in the district to make people aware of their voting rights. As temperature will be high during the polling, he asked officials to put up shamiyanas at each polling station.
He said representatives of political parties will be kept up to date on the preparations for polling, including the installation of amenities at polling stations and revision of electoral rolls. A demonstration on the functioning of electronic voting machines will be held in the presence of the representatives, he added.
